2 days ago
Fentanyl abuse rising in Klang Valley, Johor; police expand testing nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: The abuse of fentanyl — also known as the "zombie drug" and up to 100 times more potent than morphine — is believed to be spreading in Malaysia, particularly in the Klang Valley and Johor.
This finding is based on forensic analysis by the police and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) on urine samples from suspected drug users.
The data indicates a higher prevalence of fentanyl use in the Klang Valley compared to Johor.
Previously, urine sampling was conducted across 14 districts — including five police districts in Penang, six in Kuala Lumpur, and one each in Ipoh, Petaling Jaya, and Johor Baru Selatan.
Wastewater sampling was also carried out at three sites: Lembah Subang in Petaling Jaya; Desa Aman (police senior officers' housing) in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur; and Bukit Tunku in the capital.
Areas were selected based on the presence of suspected illegal substance abusers living nearby.
Due to the small number of urine samples collected, a clearer picture is needed — which authorities aim to achieve through expanded collection from suspects in the near future.
To obtain a more comprehensive overview, the police plans to conduct urine analysis in 157 districts nationwide over the next 18 months.
This initiative takes into account key factors such as operational costs, time constraints, and geographical challenges across districts.
The aim is to ensure balanced and representative findings to enhance the effectiveness of drug prevention and enforcement efforts.
Professor Datuk Dr Mohammad Kassim, head of the Strategic Cooperation Programme for Educational and Research Activities between the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and UKM, said the collaboration serves as a key platform to strengthen law enforcement and implement an integrated, ongoing response to drug abuse.
He said the partnership was aimed at enhancing the police's ability to detect emerging drugs on the market, monitor their spread, identify high-risk areas based on drug type, and provide strategic insights into illegal drug activity in targeted zones.
Through this initiative, they are monitoring over 100 high-risk substances, including fentanyl.
Currently, the laboratory operates only at UKM but is set to expand to other states soon.
He added that the lab can deliver detailed information within 48 hours.
"Data from lab analyses will be crucial for mapping high-risk areas for drug abuse, and also support more targeted and high-impact enforcement strategies, and strengthen prosecution with solid scientific evidence.
"The analysis will also raise public awareness and support early intervention programmes, including providing empirical data to enhance national drug prevention policies," he said.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, during a recent visit to UKM, said wastewater analysis in the Klang Valley — before proceeding to Johor — indicated increasing fentanyl use.
Fentanyl is a controlled substance used only in medical settings, mainly as an anaesthetic injection or a powerful painkiller.
It is administered via injection, transdermal patches, or sublingual tablets, and its use is strictly regulated, prescribed only by medical specialists in extremely low doses.
Just two milligrams of fentanyl is enough to stop a person's breathing within minutes. Accidental small doses can lead to respiratory depression, unconsciousness, and sudden death.
Dr Mohamad Halim Mohamad Shariff, a senior lecturer and addiction neuroscientist at Universiti Teknologi Mara's Faculty of Health Sciences, warned that fentanyl is a silent poison now infiltrating Malaysia's black market and poses a severe public health threat.
"The rapid spread of fentanyl and its analogues is extremely concerning.
"Its easily modified chemical structure allows illicit manufacturers to create new variants that may escape existing legal detection," he said.
He added that the danger is compounded when fentanyl is unknowingly mixed with other drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, or cocaine.
"This greatly increases the risk of sudden death, as users may be unaware they're overdosing.
"Fentanyl not only causes addiction but also damages multiple internal organs," he said.
